Federal appeals court kills journalism and whistleblowing

This ruling by the majority on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit can be construed to be as bad if not worse than the U.S. Supreme Court’s’ majority ruling in Citizens United v. FEC.

“Under the majority’s articulation of the reporter’s privilege, or lack thereof, absent a showing of bad faith by the government, a reporter can always be compelled against her will to reveal her confidential sources in a criminal trial,” he wrote. “The majority exalts the interests of the government while unduly trampling those of the press, and in doing so, severely impinges on the press and the free flow of information in our society.”

Journalists must be able to protect their sources. This isn’t even a case like with Judith Miller and Karl Rove where Rove abused reporter’s privilege. This Risen case is the real deal. The ruling is only limited to the Fourth Circuit but that is the home for most of the agencies that deal with national security in the U.S.